Fluid bladders with closures and handles

Abstract

A fluid container can comprise a flexible bladder having an internal region for storing a fluid, a bladder opening at an upper end portion of the bladder for allowing passage of fluid in or out of the internal region, a lower rigid member secured to an outer surface of the bladder at a lower end portion of the bladder, an upper closure secured to the bladder over the bladder opening for selectively closing and opening the bladder opening, and a rigid, removable handle, wherein the handle has an upper end portion that is detachably coupled to the upper closure and a lower end portion that is detachably coupled to the lower rigid member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid container comprising:
 a flexible bladder having an internal region for storing a fluid; 
 a bladder opening at an upper end portion of the bladder for allowing passage of fluid in or out of the internal region; 
 a lower handle coupling member secured to an outer surface of the bladder at a lower end portion of the bladder; 
 an upper closure secured to the bladder over the bladder opening for selectively closing and opening the bladder opening; and 
 a removable handle, wherein the handle has an upper end portion that is detachably coupled to the upper closure and a lower end portion that is detachably coupled to the lower handle coupling member; 
 wherein the upper closure comprises:
 a first closure member adapted to be secured to a first side of the bladder opening, the first closure member comprising at least one fastener mounting opening and at least one hole spaced from the fastener mounting opening; 
 a second closure member adapted to be secured to a second side of the bladder opening opposite from the first side, the second closure member comprising at least one fastener engagement opening and at least one projection spaced from the fastener engagement opening; 
 at least one fastener for securing the first and second closure members together to seal the bladder opening, the fastener being rotatably mounted in the fastener mounting opening of the first closure member, the fastener comprising a latch positioned on an outer side of the first closure member and a shaft that passes through the fastener mounting opening and extends from an inner side of the first closure member, wherein the shaft includes at least one tab that projects from a portion of the shaft on the inner side of the first closure member, and wherein the latch extends radially from a portion of the shaft on the outer side of the first closure member and the latch includes a locking portion that pivots with the shaft at least partially around an axis of the shaft; 
 wherein when the bladder closure is in an open position, the first closure member is spaced apart from the second closure member; and 
 wherein when the bladder closure is in a closed position, the tab that projects from the fastener shaft is engaged with the fastener engagement opening in the second closure member to provide a clamping force that clamps the first and second closure members together to seal the bladder opening, and the projection of the second closure member extends through the hole in the first closure member and the locking portion of the latch is engaged with the projection on the outer side of the first closure member to lock the bladder closure in the closed position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper closure comprises a first coupling feature and the upper end portion of the handle comprises a second coupling feature, wherein the first coupling feature and the second coupling feature are operable to couple together to secure the upper closure to the handle. 
     
     
       3. The fluid container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a convex surface that faces the bladder. 
     
     
       4. The fluid container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a concave surface that faces the bladder. 
     
     
       5. The fluid container of  claim 1 , wherein the lower handle coupling member comprises a fluid exit port. 
     
     
       6. The fluid container of  claim 5 , further comprising a straw having a first end that is operable to be detachably coupled to the fluid exit port, wherein the straw is disposed between the bladder and the handle. 
     
     
       7. The fluid container of  claim 6 , wherein the straw runs under the handle and the handle comprises a straw opening such that a second end of the straw opposite the first end protrudes out of straw opening. 
     
     
       8. The fluid container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper closure comprises:
 a base secured to the bladder around the bladder opening, the base having a port to allow passage of fluid through the base in or out of the bladder through the bladder opening; 
 an annular cap retainer secured to the base around the port; and 
 a cap hingedly coupled to the cap retainer and pivotable between a closed position where the cap seals the port closed and an open position where the port is open for passage of fluid in or out of the bladder. 
 
     
     
       9. The fluid container  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a connecting slot that is operable to couple to a buckle. 
     
     
       10. The fluid container of  claim 9 , further comprising a buckle coupled to the connecting slot and a strap secured to a first end portion of the buckle. 
     
     
       11. The fluid container of  claim 9 , further comprising a buckle that is coupled to the connecting slot and that is securable to a pack to secure the fluid container to the pack. 
     
     
       12. The fluid container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first buckle secured to the upper closure and a second buckle secured to the lower end portion of the handle. 
     
     
       13. The fluid container of  claim 12 , wherein the first buckle couples to a third buckle secured to a pack and the second buckle couples to a fourth buckle secured to the pack to secure the fluid container to the pack. 
     
     
       14. The fluid container of  claim 1 , further comprising a back plate secured to a rear side of the bladder, wherein the handle is secured to a front side of the bladder. 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 a fluid container comprising:
 a flexible bladder having an internal region for storing a fluid; 
 a bladder opening at an upper end portion of the bladder for allowing passage of fluid in or out of the internal region; 
 an upper closure secured to the bladder over the bladder opening for selectively closing and opening the bladder opening; and 
 a first buckle; and 
 
 a pack comprising:
 a second buckle or a securing member, wherein the first buckle and the second buckle or the securing member are operable to couple together to secure the fluid container within the pack; 
 
 wherein the upper closure comprises: 
 a first closure member adapted to be secured to a first side of the bladder opening, the first closure member comprising at least one fastener mounting opening and at least one hole spaced from the fastener mounting opening; 
 a second closure member adapted to be secured to a second side of the bladder opening opposite from the first side, the second closure member comprising at least one fastener engagement opening and at least one projection spaced from the fastener engagement opening; 
 at least one fastener for securing the first and second closure members together to seal the bladder opening, the fastener being rotatably mounted in the fastener mounting opening of the first closure member, the fastener comprising a latch positioned on an outer side of the first closure member and a shaft that passes through the fastener mounting opening and extends from an inner side of the first closure member, wherein the shaft includes at least one tab that projects from a portion of the shaft on the inner side of the first closure member, and wherein the latch extends radially from a portion of the shaft on the outer side of the first closure member and the latch includes a locking portion that pivots with the shaft at least partially around an axis of the shaft; 
 wherein when the bladder closure is in an open position, the first closure member is spaced apart from the second closure member; and 
 wherein when the bladder closure is in a closed position, the tab that projects from the fastener shaft is engaged with the fastener engagement opening in the second closure member to provide a clamping force that clamps the first and second closure members together to seal the bladder opening, and the projection of the second closure member extends through the hole in the first closure member and the locking portion of the latch is engaged with the projection on the outer side of the first closure member to lock the bladder closure in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a third buckle secured to the fluid container; and 
 a fourth buckle secured to the pack, wherein the third buckle and the fourth buckle are operable to couple together to further secure the fluid container within the pack. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid container further comprises:
 a lower handle coupling member secured to an outer surface of the bladder at a lower end portion of the bladder; 
 a removable handle, wherein the handle has an upper end portion that is detachably coupled to the upper closure and a lower end portion that is detachably coupled to the lower handle coupling member; and 
 a third buckle; and 
 wherein the pack further comprises a fourth buckle, wherein the third buckle and the fourth buckle are operable to couple together to further secure the fluid container within the pack. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first buckle, the second buckle, the third buckle, and the fourth buckle are side release buckles. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pack further comprises a reservoir sleeve to receive the fluid container.